Modular electronic musical keyboard instrument

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a modular electronic musical keyboard instrument, comprising: an array of separate keyboard segments ( 30, 32 ), each comprising a piano keyboard ( 20 ) in a range of one octave; a control system, for converting a keystroke of each key in the array of keyboard segments to a note sound in a level corresponding to the order of the key in the array of keyboard segments; octave order setting means ( 22 ), for determining to the control system the order of each keyboard segment in the array of keyboard segments; communication means of each of the keyboard segments with the control system; and connection means ( 12, 14 ) with another keyboard segment.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument, comprising:
 an array of separate keyboard segments, each comprising a piano keyboard in a range of at least one octave; 
 a control system, for converting a keystroke of each key in the array of keyboard segments to a note sound in a level corresponding to the order of the key in the array of keyboard segments; 
 octave order setting means, for determining to the control system the order of each keyboard segment in the array of keyboard segments; 
 communication means of each of the keyboard segments with the control system; and 
 connection means with another keyboard segment. 
 
     
     
       2. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the octave order setting means comprise:
 an array of buttons, in which only one button can be set to on in a time point; 
 wherein the order of each button in the array of buttons corresponds to the order of the segment thereof in the array of keyboard segments. 
 
     
     
       3. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a segment of less than one octave, for connecting thereof to an extreme segment of the modular electronic musical keyboard instrument. 
     
     
       4. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system is installed in one of the keyboard segments. 
     
     
       5. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises means for adjusting the octave level of the segments. 
     
     
       6. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a percussion segment attachable to each of the keyboard segments. 
     
     
       7. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication means is wired. 
     
     
       8. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication means is wireless. 
     
     
       9. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication means is selected from a member of the group consisting of: USB communication, conductive wires. 
     
     
       10. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication means is selected from the group consisting of: Bluetooth communication, RF communication. 
     
     
       11. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection means employs a male-female connector. 
     
     
       12. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection means employs magnetic means. 
     
     
       13. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first note of each keyboard segment is a C note. 
     
     
       14. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first note of each keyboard segment is an A note. 
     
     
       15. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , each of the segments comprising a connector, for passing therethrough electric power to a subsequent keyboard segment thereof. 
     
     
       16. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , each of the segments comprising a connector, for passing therethrough a signal responsive to a keystroke to a subsequent keyboard segment thereof. 
     
     
       17. A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the segments comprises a touch screen, for being used as input means for setting the operation of the modular electronic musical keyboard instrument. 
     
     
       18. An electronic musical keyboard segment, comprising:
 a piano keyboard comprising a plurality of keys in a range of one or two or three octaves only; 
 level setting means, for determining an octave level of the piano keyboard; and 
 a converter, for converting a keystroke of each key of said piano keyboard to a note sound within the determined octave level.